BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 9th January 2026: Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath today said that everyone has to preserve culture and tradition to safeguard themselves and to stay healthy.
He also said that Self Help Groups (SHGs) will strengthen the rural economy. The Minister informed this while addressing the Pithe Puli Utsav at Kathalia HS School in Dhanpur today.The Minister said that globalization has now also influenced eating habits.“During this season, our mothers used to cook pithe, mua, nadu, murir mua and chirar mua, which are healthy foods. But now we are ignoring all these and consuming street food. Is street food good for our health? Due to this, stomach-related diseases are increasing and the situation is worsening. We have to preserve our culture and tradition to safeguard ourselves and to remain healthy. I am not speaking against other food,” said the Minister.
The Agriculture Minister informed that Pithe Puli Utsav is not only a food festival but also represents our culture, tradition, and an example of self-reliance.“In our state, there are a total of 54,627 Self Help Groups with 4.89 lakh members. Before 2018, around 3,506 groups received a revolving fund of Rs 4 crore 26 lakh, while our government has provided Rs 75 crore to 36,530 groups. This is an example of self-reliance. Before 2018, around 900 groups received bank loans amounting to Rs 4 crore, while our government has provided loans to over 1 lakh groups worth Rs 1,896 crore. The BJP does not just speak but works for the betterment of the state and the nation. Over 1 lakh women have become Lakhpati Didis in our state,” said the Minister.
He also said that when women become self-reliant, the state and nation will develop, helping to build Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that we will modernize, but we must preserve our culture and tradition. We have never seen such programs during previous governments as they forgot the tradition. SHGs will strengthen the rural economy,” said the Minister.
Former MoS Pratima Bhoumik, MLA Bindu Debnath, and others were present at the event.
